wickedchouette | (no subject)

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[Ever since everyone in Norfinbury had taken control of the town's dimension-hopping technology, Alfie has stayed on his own world, never visiting anybody else. At first, he'd even been a little leery about the idea of anybody - close friends included - coming to visit him. But by now he's much more accustomed to the idea, and the Riyria duo has an open invitation to pop over whenever they want to.

When Royce and Hadrian come by for visits, Alfie allows them more reign to wander around the bakery than most. There are times - usually during his meetings - when it's "workers only" and off-limits even for them, but for the rest of the time, he trusts them not to do or say anything stupid. They know how this sort of business works. They don't need his constant supervision. And when they show up today, Ollie doesn't hesitate to usher them in.]

Are you looking for Alfie? He's in the back.

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Anna. [Honestly, Hadrian is delighted by Alfie's incomprehensibility of the miracle of a baby. It's sickeningly cute. About as sick as having to watch Royce tend diligently to Mercy.] I don't think they even need to. [Small baby fingers, too precious for this world.]

If you think that's amazing, wait until you have to change her. [Hadrian straightens with the light crack of his back, but then turns and sits gently down on the couch beside Alfie. Close enough to watch the baby, but far enough to give Alfie some space.

He looks between the two of them.] She's beautiful. Must get it from Renee. [He gives Alfie's arm a bit of a light thwap. Teasing.] Congratulations. I can't believe it's been that long. For, you know... babies.

[He huffs, a little laugh, knowing what Hadrian is getting at.]

We've got three parents and five grandparents between us, all politely pretending that they haven't done the math.

Edited 2016-10-14 15:02 (UTC)

It's the polite thing to do. [He smiles a little, then peers down at the baby.] And it also helps us keep our sanity, I think.

Please tell me you made Royce hold her. For more than five minutes. [It's a shame he fucking missed it really. And that, you know, cameras are only just starting to be a thing. He's gonna need a picture of that, Royce holding a small baby.]

[He laughs again, tucking the blanket a little tighter around her.]

Every time I hold her, I'm worried I'm gonna break her. If I let somebody else have a go I think I'd suffer a heart attack.

You missed out on a good opportunity. [But he's smiling still, so he gets it.] You sound like Royce. One stubbed Mercedes toe, and the entire world is ending. I'm sure you take good care of her.

Oh no. [Both brows go up, and he nods at the baby.] Oh no, here it comes. [There it is, the tiniest, sweetest yawn in existence.] I wish I could sleep for eighteen hours a day.

[Wow, are you talking, Hadrian? Alfie doesn't seem aware of it. He's too busy staring at the most perfect baby in existence.]

[Hadrian can't help but laugh about it. Frankly, he'd be the same way, but listen, it's more amusing when you're not on that end of things. Small treasures.

It's good it's a girl, too, he thinks. Same with Royce. Softens hardened men up a little.] Hopefully, it won't be something you ever get use to at all.

Even if you end up with six more running around the place. Your bakery might actually turn out to be just a bakery after all.

More. This one is terrifying enough. Tell me, how am I gonna keep her safe from everything terrible in the world?

[He days it lightheartedly enough, but it's also kind of a real question. How does he make sure nothing bad ever happens to his daughter in her entire life, Hadrian?]

[Hadrian done knowed he fucked up as soon as Alfie starts talking.] Uh--

[CALM DOWN, PAPA. Harian doesn't know these answers! Royce has asked him these questions already, and he didn't have the answers then, so he's not going to have the answers now! LOOK, he ran away from home, how is he going to even--] Easy. Let's just take it a few days at a time, okay? [Poor Alfie.]

Really, [His voice softens.] if you want to do right by her, you might think about selling strictly bread at the bakery. [Not always the easiest path, but the best one for safety. And Alfie asked about safety!]

I mean, unless she wants to grow up and be a tough gang leader like yourself.

[Anna blinks sleepily, and waves a fist in the air, and Alfie is transfixed again.]

Not many little girls want to be gangsters.

[He looks from Alfie down at the baby. There's a bit of a smile.] Not many gangsters want to be fathers either.

You haven't met the gangsters I have. Gangsters with families - they're a dime a dozen, here.

I've met a few. You've got some who work for you. [But they're working for someone, not necessarily gang leaders.] It might be why they have to do the work they do. To provide for their families.

Hey. Don't worry so much about it. We'll hope she takes more after your wife, and then the only thing you have to worry about is keeping the boys away.

[He's not helping, is he?]

Fucking hell--

[He runs a hand down his face, grinning.]

I'll end up with grandchildren eight months after her wedding.

Yeah, if she takes after you. [He offers Alfie a bit of a grin.] Now I have to listen to two men complain and grumble and stomp when boys come calling on their beautiful daughters.

Edited (also two mean) 2016-10-14 22:46 (UTC)

Her mum did play a bit of a part in that, mate.

[He runs a light finger down her cheek, and she instinctively turns her mouth towards it.]

Fucking hell. What if she can't stand me?

[Okay, he's sorry, but that gets a small burst of laughter that he has to quickly choke down so he doesn't scare the baby. Ends up coughing it out.]

I doubt it. Most girls love their fathers. Thrace--she loved hers. And if someone as sweet as Mercy can love a man like Royce Melborn...

Shy little thing.

[But he'd liked Mercy.]

Needs a bit of coaxing to come out of that shell, doesn't she? But she seems to warm up quickly.

Yeah. [Hadrian likes Mercy, too.] Like her father. [He knows you know, Alfie.] But she reminds me of her mother. [GOD, he made himself sad...]

Make sure you tell them you love them any chance you get. [For a while, he had been jealous of Royce. Gwen was such a kind, strong, beautiful woman. But then it didn't bother him so much, and he realized he cared about Gwen in a different way.

He wishes he had told her more often how much he loved her.]

[He cradles the baby a little closer, looking at Hadrian seriously.]

Are they doing all right?

[For a moment, he doesn't answer. He doesn't even look up from the baby in Alfie's arms, and then, slowly, he does.] Yeah. As well as they can be, considering. Mercy isn't quite so bad. She's young.

Royce, though...

He's hiding it well. Acting normal.

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